Bio
Award-winning clarinetist Dylan James enjoys a multi-faceted career as a performer, educator, and administrator. He has performed nationally with various ensembles, including with Yo-Yo Ma and The Silk Road Ensemble at the Chautauqua Amphitheater. He has won several competitions resulting in concerto performances, including the Rowan String Ensemble Concerto Competition, Northern Lights Festival Concerto Competition, and the Rowan Soloists’ Competition. He is a past winner of the inaugural Clifton Foundation Emerging Artist Award and has performed in a sold-out duo recital with pianist Yahan Liu in Zhengzhou, China. He maintains active freelance engagements in New York City, having performed at the Lincoln Center - Alice Tully Hall, the Public Theater, NYsoundCircuit, Village Verein, Regina Opera Company, and with local orchestras and chamber ensembles throughout the city. Dylan has held clarinet fellowships at the Chautauqua Institution Summer Music Festival, Miami Music Festival, National Music Festival, National Symphony Orchestra Summer Music Institute, and Northern Lights Music Festival.
A versatile and practical clarinet instructor, Dylan is committed to helping students identify and reach their own musical goals while developing healthy practice habits and a lifelong appreciation for music. He is enthusiastic about working with elementary and advanced students alike and prioritizes building a solid technical foundation through the study of the clarinet repertoire across time periods and genres. He incorporates music theory and other topics in lessons and encourages students to take advantage of musical opportunities outside of lessons; he has prepared students to successfully take part in auditions for regional and statewide ensemble festivals as well as youth orchestras and summer programs. Dylan is currently on the clarinet faculty of Mannes Prep and had previously taught clarinet as a faculty member of Rowan Community Music School, Chautauqua Community Music School, and Do Re Mi Music and Arts.
Dylan completed a Master of Music degree at Mannes School of Music and a Bachelor of Music Degree at Rowan University, where he was awarded the Ann B. Ward Medallion for highest distinction in Fine and Performing Arts and was honored with an Undergraduate Scholar Award through the Presser Foundation. Dylan’s principal teachers include Rié Suzuki, Anton Rist, and Charles Neidich.
In addition to his career as a performing artist and music educator, Dylan also works with students as a tutor for music theory, high school and college admissions test preparation, school subjects, and English language studies. Dylan holds an administrative position at The New School as the Associate Director of Business Operations for the College of Performing Arts.
